I flunked out of clinical today..
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I`m devastated.. This was my last semester.. 3 weeks away from graduation. What happened is I didn`t have my watch for clinical and that was a break in dress code.. and when I went to take a vital... Read More

Nov 24, '12

Oh what a shame.. I was actually thinking that

Excelsior sounds like a nice option until I saw that. I was passing pretty well with a B average if it hadn`t have been for this incident with clinical. So they won`t except someone who failed clinical and was taken off of the program that I only had a month left to complete... wonder if any school does.. I don`t want to do an entire YEAR though.. I was hoping more for a month. I do well with online classes.. so that would be a bonus .. any option would be good if it only allowed me to finish in 1-2 semesters because honestly I can`t afford this anymore.. I already paid for my NCLEX.. $200.. and that deadline is due in a year.. since I thought that I was going to pass this semester and i`m unemployed. I hate that this rearranges my life even more

Nov 24, '12

You can try contacting other schools in your area. Excelsior is one of the few schools that have a pre-licensure program. I think Western Governor's University is another, but both are only acceptable in specific states. Several county/community colleges have on site/online entry to practice programs that you can look into. Since cost is an issue for you, I'm going to venture a guess that transferring to a for-profit private school is not a real option.

Since there isn't a standardized cirriculum even with individual states (one school may do med-surg in the first semester and pedi/maternity the next while another school does fundamentals the first semester and psych the next), it's very difficult to transfer mid program to another nursing school. Note I said difficult but not impossible. You'll need to determine the final outcome of your situation because if the school states you were dismissed for falsification of patient data you may have a much more difficult time finding another program to accept you (whether in person or an online program)

If you find a school to accept you mid program and give you credit for work completed, you'll likely have to repeat the semester not just a month worth of classwork. Even if your current school decided to drop you from this semester and permit you to re-enroll in the spring you'd have to repeat the entire semester worth of work. So it would be at least 12-16 weeks depending on the school calendar not a month.

I'm surprised you were encouraged to apply for the NCLEX so early before graduation since the fees are non-refundable and time limited. We were told to wait until our last major exams (about 2 weeks before graduation) before applying to the board of nursing and not apply for NCLEX until graduation as successful graduation is a requirment for the BoN to issue an authorization to take the NCLEX.

It's frustrating. It's heartbreaking. Try and work with your current program first as that will most likely be the fastest route to graduation. You can inquire in other programs in your area while you wait for the final decision.

Nov 25, '12

I thoroughly expect to repeat a semester, not a month.. thats not a problem for me. What i am not comfortable with is repeating a year.. or more.. that would be awful. The school gave up our paperwork to apply for NCLEX at the beginning of the semester.. i waited under 3 days BEFORE I was dismissed from the program..thinking yay.. it`s less than a month away I need to be proactive and apply before the good spots are taken.. a lot of other people in the class were doing the same thing. I have a year to take it now and i`m very anxious because we don`t have a lot of schools near me and from what I do see in PA.. the schools are very expensive.. like 4X what I paid for this program. This is not going to be an easy time for me financially

Nov 25, '12

This is just a thought, if all else fails.I know in some state's you can take the nclex for your LPN at either a certain semester or when when you have enough credits accumulated from your current schooling for your RN (I know that's a step backwards in a sense) does anyone know if then she can then apply for an LPN/RN bridge program and apply those credits she already has, you would almost have completed the program right from the start.

Nov 25, '12

Unfortunately in PA, that is not an option: "15. I am entering my senior year of a RN (baccalaureate, associate, diploma) nursing program, am I eligible to sit for the practical nurse exam now?
Answer: The answer is NO. In Pennsylvania, to be eligible to sit for the practical nursing licensure exam you must have completed an approved practical nursing program."

You can try contacting other schools in the area to see if there is the option to repeat your final semester. See if your present school will permit you to re-enroll the next semester to finish up one semester late.

Nov 25, '12

[QUOTE

You can try contacting other schools in the area to see if there is the option to repeat your final semester. See if your present school will permit you to re-enroll the next semester to finish up one semester late.[/QUOTE]

yeah that`s what i`m waiting for.. the school is meeting over whether I can come back into the program next semester.. i will know by late december.. i really am praying for this because otherwise it`s going to be a lot more costly AND take a lot longer if I have to start with another school. i`m just depressed over the whole matter. hopefully everything works out

Nov 25, '12

Hopefully you will be given the option to return in the next semester as that seems it would not only be the most economical but best option of all.

Take a breath and maybe come up with a "plan of action" how to move forward. Another student in a similar situation (only in that problem in clinical...took a photo during an OR case with her cell phone) created a plan of action, including speaking to the next semesters of students about where she went wrong and how to prevent errors in judgement in the future. Apparently the board felt it showed remorse and initiative as well as a productive way to prevent future issues. If nothing else, it might be something to do other than hurry up and wait while the school determines your fate.

Good luck.

Dec 10, '12

That is an awesome idea.. I sent an email to the admin that I would be willing to do that .. anyone know any other ideas? I`m really nervous because that decision is coming soon.. can`t believe 3 years of my life could potentially have been a waste... It still hasn`t really sunk in

Dec 13, '12

I'm really sorry for you!!! I would forget my watch for clinicals too but there were physical old school clocks on the wall and the digital thermometers had a timer option. The major problem was that you pulled out your cellphone. There were other options that you could have taken and make sure to apologize a ton about your mistakes. I think you should do to the best of your ability to get accepted again for another semester. Hopefully you'll take it as a second chance and ace your nursing program!

Dec 13, '12

I failed out of clinical too. I'm still working on a plan for re-entry to the RN program. I have some options available, but I want to end up with my ADN/RN. Tough road, to be sure. I failed out because of a lot of little things, that while none affected patient care in the least, added up to me failing the clinical. I was supposed to graduate in May. Now I won't. It's at least a year or two off now. I just hope that I can get things back up and moving quickly.

Dec 26, '12

i didn`t make it back in.. my re-admission was denied because 1- didn`t handle the situation properly, and 2- tried to hide my use of cell phone .. and because i hid the phone which would have been OK to have in our clinical the teacher was able to effectively prove that she was watching me the whole time from the other end of the hall and did not see me with a watch or cell phone timer while checking the vital sign so i was committing dishonesty since there was no other way to time the vital sign.

well.. i`m stumped and not sure what else to do. anyone know of a program that i can get into that is accredited that will still have me and is valid for PA?.. and won`t take forever to get? .. this is such a disappointment

i didn`t make it back in.. my re-admission was denied because 1- didn`t handle the situation properly, and 2- tried to hide my use of cell phone .. and because i hid the phone which would have been OK to have in our clinical the teacher was able to effectively prove that she was watching me the whole time from the other end of the hall and did not see me with a watch or cell phone timer while checking the vital sign so i was committing dishonesty since there was no other way to time the vital sign.

well.. i`m stumped and not sure what else to do. anyone know of a program that i can get into that is accredited that will still have me and is valid for PA?.. and won`t take forever to get? .. this is such a disappointment

Student2001 you still around? Know this thread old just wondering if everything worked out...